The man who killed a security guard during an attempted armed robbery in Muledane in September 1998, Mandla George Chauke (47) of Thembisa, will spend the remaining part of his life in jail, after he was found guilty of murder. His case was finalized in the Thohoyandou High Court last Friday.

The incident leading to his arrest, prosecution and sentence, took place at Muledane on September 25, 1998, at about 10:00. The court heard that, on the day of the incident, the accused and his friends used their own car to block the way of security vehicles which were collecting cash from various businesses at Muledane. The robbers then opened fire on the guards. The court further heard that bullets flew as the security guards retaliated. One of the security guards, Mr Nehemia Ntsieni, was shot dead during the incident. Another security guard, Frans Matidza, was injured.

Realizing that the situation was getting out of hand, the robbers decided to drive away, leaving two of their colleagues, George Chauke and Lucas Mavuso, at the scene. Mavuso and Chauke ran away in the direction of Thohoyandou. They were apprehended by community members at the Muledane traffic intersection, where they were severely assaulted before they were handed over to the police. They escaped from prison some months after their arrest, but Chauke was later rearrested.

He was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, attempted robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of unlicensed ammunition. Judge Hetisani sentenced Chauke to life imprisonment for murder, 11 years in jail for attempted murder, 15 years for attempted robbery, 5 years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and 2 years for the possession of ammunition. The sentences will all run concurrently with the life imprisonment.

Adv Ratshilumela Johannes Makhera appeared for the state, and Adv Khathutshelo Mainganye represented the accused.

In another case that was also finalised in the Thohoyandou High Court last Friday, Shumani Emmanuel Mahlaule (28) of Musekwa Village was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for rape.

The incident relating to the case took place at Musekwa village during the night of 31 December, 2003. The court heard that, during the night of the incident, the victim and her friend had been sent to fetch the keys at her father’s friend’s place. They met the accused somewhere along the way. He started to chase the victim and her friend.

The victim and her friend ran in different directions; the accused chased them and caught the victim a distance away. He raped her repeatedly before the victim managed to escape and run to a nearby bar lounge. Mahlaule followed her to the bar lounge and when the people who were drinking beer came to her rescue, he away. The victim was 13 years old at the time of the incident.

Mahlaule was arrested some days after the incident. He was represented by Adv Jackson Mushasha, while Adv Susan Mahada was the prosecutor. Mahlaule had five previous convictions, which Judge Hetisani had also taken into consideration before sentencing him.